Tues., 8/20/13 Devotion (Rom. 10:2-3)

Today's encouragement comes from Romans 10:2 & 3, where Paul wrote these words:

"For I bear them [the unbelieving Jews] witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God."

Do we understand that a lot of religious fanatics go to hell? In today's text, the problem was not passion, but it was misplaced trust. The Jewish people that Paul is referring to (above) were all for justification (even with God), but they wanted it on their own terms: namely, through keeping the law.

What is "the righteousness of God" referred to above? It is that right-eousness that is gained through faith in Christ (and not through works). Abraham had that kind of righteousness; and everyone else who ends up in heaven has it too.

[Puritan quote of the day: "A Christian conquers, even when he is con-quered." --Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]